Today at the GM Meetings, Sandy Alderson told reporters that, with the departure of Jason Bay, the added payroll and roster flexibility increases the possibility the team could retain Scott Hairston.

“I think it helps,” Alderson said, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. “As I said, it gives us more flexibility and it subtracts one more candidate from our outfield. So in both ways it probably enhances Scott’s chances of coming back.”

Michael Baron, Contributor

In an ideal world, Hairston is probably a platoon player, and a very solid fourth outfielder. Given Hairston’s production over the last couple of years, Alderson said himself towards the end of the season Hairston has earned a multi-year deal (and probably a raise) for a next contract. And so, it’s hard to envision the Mets keeping him based on those two things along with their current needs and how close they already are to their budget for 2013, even with some added flexibility due to Bay’s departure.

Previous updates on Scott Hairston...

Contract: Hairston signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract before the 2012 season. He filed for free agency after the 2012 season.

Stats: Hairston hit .263 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI in 377 at-bats over 134 games in 2012. Hairston hit .286 with 11 home runs against left-handed pitching, and .239 with nine home runs against right-handed pitching.